Upkar's Compendium General English

392 Pages·7.253 MB·English

by  Dr. B. B. Jain

JR
Including Usage, Comprehension, Precis
and Letter-Writing
(An Indispensable Book for Undergraduate Students)
By
Dr. B.B. Jain
M.A., Ph.D.
(Retd.) Professor and Head
Department of English Studies and Research,
Agra College, Agra.
Revised & Enlarged Edition
UPKAR PRAKASHAN, AGRA–2
© Author
Publishers
UPKAR PRAKASHAN
(An ISO 9001 : 2000 Company)
2/11A, Swadeshi Bima Nagar, AGRA–282 002
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● The publishers have taken all possible precautions in publishing this book, yet if
any mistake has crept in, the publishers shall not be responsible for the same.
● This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced in any form by
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permission from the Publishers.
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ISBN : 978-81-7482-190-4
Price : 230·00
(Rs. Two Hundred Thirty Only)
Code No. 1534
Printed at : UPKAR PRAKASHAN (Printing Unit) Bye-pass, AGRA
Preface
Adding a new book on English Grammar and Usage to the existing flood of books
on the subject sounds rather audacious. But strangely enough, it is this flood of books,
some of which are spurious and others too technical and abstruse to be followed by the
learner, that has prompted the present author to write a new book on Applied
Grammar, Usage and Comprehension which could well serve as a practical handbook
and guide to the learning of English Language both by the primary as well as
advanced learners.
English is indeed a difficult language to learn, and the rules of Formal and Applied
Grammar and Usage which govern it are equally difficult for the learner to understand
and apply correctly. This is more so because there are many exceptions to most of the
rules. The learner would therefore need not only an explication of the rules but also a
large number of illustrative examples and exercises for practice. This point has been
kept in mind all through the course of writing of this book. The book has, therefore,
turned out to be not only a complete Textbook of Grammar, but also a comprehensive
Desk-book for practice.
The book is designed to be all-comprehensive in its range and scope. It has 45
Chapters which, as the contents would show, cover practically all aspects of Applied
Grammar, Usage, Word-Formation, Comprehension, and Composition. It represents a
synthesis of the traditional and structural methods to teach the learner how to read,
write, and speak English correctly, idiomatically and fluently. While dealing with the
grammatical and structural problems under various chapters, special attention has been
paid to the intricate and ticklish problems which even the advanced students have to
face. These problems relate particularly to the correct use of Syntax, Articles,
Prepositions, Auxiliaries, Non-Finite Verbs, Position of Adverbs, Tense and Time
sense, and Phrasal expressions. Due attention has also been paid to the special
requirements of the candidates appearing at various competitive examinations at the
State and Central levels.
It is confidently hoped that the book would serve as a complete and practical
textbook and manual of English Grammar, Usage and Comprehension to the
candidates preparing for the various University and competitive examinations
throughout the country.
—B.B. Jain
Contents
Chapters Pages
1. Some Basic Concepts 3–4
Letters, Syllables, Phrases and Sentences ……………………………………………… 3
Kinds of Sentences ……………………………………………………………………… 3
Parts of Speech ………………………………………………………..………………… 4
2. Syntax 5–19
Agreement of the Verb with the Subject………………………………………………… 5
Some Exceptions………………………………………………………………………… 7
Collective Noun and the Verb …………………………………………..……………… 10
Some Typical Nouns and the Verb……………………………………………………… 10
Relative Pronoun and the Verb ………………………………………….……………… 11
Numeral Expressions and the Verb……………………………………………………… 13
Quantitative Expressions and the Verb…………………………………..……………… 13
Verb 'to be' and the Complement………………………………………………………… 15
Nouns, Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives……………………………..……………… 17
3. Articles 20–30
Kinds of Articles………………………………………………………………………… 20
Forms of Indefinite Article : 'a' or 'an'…………………………………………………… 20
Uses of Indefinite Article………………………………………………………………… 21
Uses of Definite Article…………………………………………………………………. 23
Omission of Articles……………………………………………………………………… 26
Position of Articles ……………………………………………………………………… 28
4. Nouns 31–41
Formation of Genders…………………………………………………………………… 31
Conversion of Numbers ………………………………………………………………… 32
Formation of Possessive Case…………………………………………………………… 33
Correct Use of Nouns : Rules…………………………………………………………… 35
5. Pronouns 42–54
Forms of Pronouns ……………………………………………………………………… 42
Correct Use of Pronouns : Personal Pronouns …………..……………………………… 42
Pronoun 'It'/'This'………………………………………………………………………… 46
Relative Pronouns ……………………………………………………………………… 47
Compound Relative Pronouns…………………………………………………………… 49
Omission of Relative Pronouns………………………….……………………………… 50
Reflexive Pronouns……………………………………………………………………… 51
Interrogative Pronouns …………………………………..……………………………… 52
6. Adjectives 55–72
Kinds of Adjectives……………………………………………………………………… 55
Position of Adjectives…………………………………………………………………… 57
Degrees of Adjectives…………………………………………………………………… 58
Correct Use of Adjectives : Positive Degree Adjectives………………………………… 60
Comparative Degree Adjectives………………………………………………………… 61
Superlative Degree Adjectives ………………………..………………………………… 65
Some Other Typical Adjectives……………………….………………………………… 67
7. Adverbs 73–85
Kinds of Adverbs………………………………………………………………………… 73
Degrees of Adverbs……………………………………………………………………… 73
( vi )
Position of Adverbs……………………………………………………………………… 74
Some Typical Adverbs…………………………………………...……………………… 77
Some Common Rules …………………………………………………………………… 83
8. Prepositions 86–112
Forms of Preposition …………………………………………….……………………… 86
Functional Types of Prepositions ………………………………..……………………… 86
Use of Prepositions : Their Place………………………………..……………………… 87
Omission of Preposition ………………………………………………………………… 88
Wrong Use of Prepositions……………………………………………………………… 89
Some Typical Prepositions ……………………………………………………………… 89
Preposition Gerund……………………………………………………………………… 91
The Same Words followed by Different Prepositions…………………………………… 93
Different Forms of Words followed by Different Prepositions….……………………… 94
List of Appropriate Prepositions
(a) Nouns followed by Prepositions ………………………….……………………… 96
(b) Adjectives and Participles followed by Prepositions……..……………………… 101
(c) Verbs followed by Prepositions …………………………..……………………… 105
9. Conjunctions 113–122
Correlative Conjunctions………………………………………...……………………… 113
Uses of Conjunctions…………………………………………….……………………… 114
Functional Conjunctions………………………………………………………………… 119
10. Verbs 123–144
Kinds of Verbs…………………………………………………………………………… 123
Auxiliary/Modal Verbs : Their Functions……………………….……………………… 125
Verbs 'To be' : Am, Is, Are, Was, Were ………………………………………………… 125
Have/Has/Had…………………………………………………………………………… 127
May/Might…………………………………………………………….………………… 132
Can/Could …………………………………………………………….………………… 133
Shall/Should, Will/Would……………………………………………..………………… 135
Must/Ought…………………………………………………………….………………… 138
Need/Needn't ………………………………………………………….………………… 138
Dare/Daren't……………………………………………………………………………… 139
Used to…………………………………………………………………………………… 140
Two Auxiliaries and Principal Verb ………………………………….………………… 141
Position of Subject, Verb, Object and Complement…………………..………………… 141
Question–Tags/Tail Questions…………………………………….......………………… 143
11. Non-Finite Verbs 145–153
Kinds of Non-Finite Verbs…………………………………………….………………… 145
The Infinitive…………………………………………………………..………………… 145
(a) Infinitive with or without ‘to’…………………………………………………… 145
(b) Noun—Infinitives…………………………………………….………………… 146
(c) Gerundial Infinitives………………………………………….………………… 147
(d) Other Uses of Infinitives………………………………………………………… 147
The Gerund……………………………………………………………………………… 148
(a) Functions of Gerund ………………………………………….………………… 149
(b) Uses of Gerund ……………………………………………….………………… 149
The Participle………………………………………………………….………………… 150
(a) Kinds of Participles……………………………………………………………… 150
(b) Uses of Participles…………………………………………….………………… 150
(c) Rules of Use of Participles……………………………………………………… 151
( vii )
12. Time and Tense 154–170
Distinction between Time and Tense …………………………………………………… 154
Three Forms of Verbs : A List ………………………………………..………………… 154
Structures of Sentences :………………………………………………………………… 156
Structures in the Present Tense……………………………………………………… 156
Structures in the Past Tense……………………………………...………………… 159
Structures in the Future Tense……………………………………………………… 162
Uses of Tenses ………………………………………………………..………………… 164
Tenses and Time………………………………………………………………………… 169
Structures of ‘It is time’, ‘If were’ and ‘Wish’ Sentences ……………………………… 170
13. Active and Passive Voice 171–176
Interchange between Subject and Object ……………………………..………………… 171
Changes in the Verb …………………………………………………..………………… 172
Imperative Sentences…………………………………………………..………………… 174
Negative Sentences …………………………………………………...………………… 174
Interrogative Sentences ……………………………………………….………………… 174
Some Other Sentence Structures………………………………………………………… 175
14. Direct and Indirect Narration 177–191
Some General Terms ………………………………………………….………………… 177
Rules for Connectives…………………………………………………………………… 177
Rules for Change in Tenses……………………………………………………………… 178
Rules for Change in Persons…………………………………………..………………… 181
Miscellaneous Changes ……………………………………………….………………… 182
Conversion of Interrogative Sentences ……………………………….………………… 183
Conversion of Imperative Sentences………………………………….………………… 184
Conversion of Exclamatory Sentences………………………………..………………… 186
Question-Tags…………………………………………………………………………… 186
Sentences Beginning with 'Let' ……………………………………….………………… 187
Some General Observations……………………………………………………………… 187
15. Analysis 192–200
Some General Observations……………………………………………………………… 192
Analysis of Complex Sentences ………………………………………………………… 193
Subordinate Noun Clause…………………………………………………………… 193
Subordinate Adjective Clause ……………………………………………………… 194
Subordinate Adverb Clause………………………………………………………… 195
Analysis of Compound Sentences…………………………………….………………… 198
16. Synthesis 201–210
Combining into a Simple Sentence……………………………………………………… 201
Combining into a Complex Sentence …………………………………………………… 205
Combining into a Compound Sentence……………………………….………………… 207
17. Transformation 211–225
Interchange between 'too' and 'so'……………………………………..………………… 211
Conditional Sentences…………………………………………………………………… 212
Concession or Contrast ………………………………………………………………… 212
Degrees of Adjectives…………………………………………………………………… 213
Active and Passive Voice………………………………………………………………… 213
Affirmative and Negative Sentences………………………………….………………… 214
Exclamatory and Assertive Sentences…………………………………………………… 215
( viii )
Changes in Parts of Speech……………………………………………………………… 215
Interchange between Simple and Compound Sentences………………………………… 217
Interchange between Simple and Complex Sentences ………………..………………… 218
Interchange between Compound and Complex Sentences……………………………… 221
Interchange between Principal and Subordinate Clauses……………..………………… 222
18. Formation of Words 226–230
Suffixes………………………………………………………………...………………… 226
Words Converted into Different Parts of Speech ……………………..………………… 227
Prefixes ………………………………………………………………..………………… 229
Antonyms Formed by Negative Prefixes………………………………………………… 229
19. Antonyms 231–235
20. Synonyms 236–241
21. Homonyms 242–249
22. Paronyms 250–255
23. Same Word Used as Different Parts of Speech 256–260
24. One-Word Substitution 261–266
25. Idioms 267–279
26. Idiomatic Phrases 280–285
Noun Phrases …………………………………………………………………………… 280
Adjective Phrases………………………………………………………………………… 280
Adverb Phrases………………………………………………………..………………… 281
Prepositional Phrases………………………………………………….………………… 282
Verbal Phrases…………………………………………………………………………… 283
Phrases in Pairs………………………………………………………………………….. 285
27. Distinction between Similar Expressions 286–287
28. Proverbs 288–291
29. Expansion : Paragraph-Writing 292–297
30. Spellings 298–299
31. Punctuation and Capitals 300–305
32. Figures of Speech 306–309
33. Foreign Words and Phrases 310–312
34. The Courtesy Words ‘Please’ and ‘Thank You’ 313–314
35. Greetings and Salutations 315–316
36. Dates and Time 317–319
37. Comprehension 320–329
38. Precis-Writing 330–336
39. Paraphrasing 337–342
40. Report-Writing 343–344
41. Messages 345–349
42. Notices 350–354
43. Diary-Writing 355–356
44. Telegram 357–359
45. Letter-Writing 360–384
Format of Personal Letters…………………………………………………………...……… 360
Format of Official Letters…………………………………………………………………… 363
Format of Business Letters ………………………………………………………….……… 365
Models of Personal Letters ………………………………………………………….……… 367
Models of Matrimonial Letters……………………………………………………………… 373
Models of Business Letters and Applications……………………………………….……… 378